Portable media storage device with wireless network connectivity

Abstract

Portable media storage device with wireless network connectivity. A portable storage device is proposed for enabling wireless communication between the portable storage device and one or more multimedia terminals and/or devices. The portable storage device includes a wireless circuitry for communicating with any of the wireless devices. When communicating on the wireless network, the portable storage device can transmit to any of the wireless devices data stored in its memory. Additionally, data streaming between portable storage device and at least one multimedia devices and or terminals may be performed simultaneously.

1 . A portable storage device having wireless connectivity, said device comprising: 
 means for storing data;    means for connecting to a wireless network, coupled to said means for storing data;    means for supplying electrical power to said portable storage device;    and wherein said means for connecting to a wireless network are configured to stream multimedia data between said means for storing data and at least one wireless device.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein steaming is bi-directional.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein streaming data between said means for storing data and a plurality of said devices having wireless connectivity is performed simultaneously.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network is one of the following communication protocols: IEEE 802.11x, Bluetooth, IrDA.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network in connected to the Internet.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said wireless device is one of the following: multimedia device, multimedia terminal, personal computer, personal device accessory (PDA), DVD, VCR, TV.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said portable storage device is capable of receiving and transmitting in multiple formats, and is used to interpret between at least two said devices having wireless connectivity, each holding data in a different format.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said device may be connected to a base station enabling at least one of the following: extending the activity range of said means for connecting to a wireless network, expanding the capacity of said means for storing data, charging said means for supplying electrical power.  
     
     
         9 . A portable data storage device having wireless connectivity, said device comprising: 
 a storage module;    a processor;    a wireless circuitry;    a power unit;    wherein said processor is coupled to said storage module and to said wireless circuitry;    and wherein said processor is configured to command said wireless circuitry to stream multimedia data between said storage module and at least one wireless device.    
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said storage module comprises at least one of the following: magnetic hard disk drive, CD-RW, EEPROM, flash.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said wireless device is one of the following: multimedia device, multimedia terminal, personal computer, personal device accessory (PDA), TV.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said wireless circuitry is configured to operate in one of the following wireless communication protocols: IEEE 802.11xx, Bluetooth, IrDA.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said wireless circuitry is configured to bi-directional streaming.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said processor enables the simultaneous streaming of data between the data storage module and a plurality of said portable devices having wireless connectivity.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 9  wherein the device can be connected to a base station for enhanced performance.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein said base station enables power unit charging.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein said base station enables expanding the storage capacity.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein said base station enables extending the wireless activity range of the portable data device.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said portable storage device is capable of receiving and transmitting in multiple formats, and is used to interpret between at least two said devices having wireless connectivity, each holding data in a different format.  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said portable storage device is configured to serve as a virtual storage manager, and wherein the portable storage device is configured upon a request from a first wireless device, to relay requested data from a second wireless device to said first wireless device.  
     
     
         21 . A method for streaming data over a wireless network comprising at least one wireless device and at least one portable storage device comprising a storage module, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) at least one wireless device sends a request for a multimedia data file;    (b) said portable storage device streams requested multimedia data file to at least one wireless device in accordance with the request    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein streaming to a plurality of wireless device is performed simultaneously.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein multimedia data file is the same file streamed to each and every wireless device  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein multimedia data file is different for each and every wireless device.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein step (a) further comprises: subsequently said portable storage device locates a wireless device on said network holding said requested multimedia data file and streams said multimedia data file to said storage module of said portable storage device.